Direct Primary Care in Columbus: 14 Practices Starting at $40/Month in Ohio's Capital

Ohio's Capital Has Quietly Built One of the Midwest's Best DPC Markets

Columbus is a city that keeps surprising people. Ohio's capital and largest city — home to over 900,000 residents and a metro area of 2.1 million — has grown faster than any other major Midwest city over the past decade. The Ohio State University fuels a massive healthcare and research ecosystem. A booming tech sector has attracted companies like Amazon, Google, and Intel (which is building a $20 billion semiconductor plant just outside the city). And Columbus healthcare costs run 18% below the national average.

But affordable doesn't mean accessible. Ohio's uninsured rate has dropped from 14% to 7% since Medicaid expansion in 2014, with over 770,000 Ohioans gaining coverage. Yet that progress is now at risk: with enhanced ACA premium tax credits expiring, an estimated 140,000 additional Ohioans could lose coverage in 2026. On the ACA marketplace, insurers are requesting 18% premium increases. Without subsidies, premiums for a 60-year-old couple could jump from $888/month to $1,900/month.

This is where Direct Primary Care steps in. Columbus has quietly built a robust DPC market: 14 practices within 25 miles, starting at just $40/month — well below the national average. For the growing number of Columbus residents navigating coverage gaps, rising premiums, or simply wanting a better relationship with their doctor, DPC offers a practical, affordable alternative.

What Does DPC Cost in the Columbus Metro Area?

Based on data from Connectedly Health's DPC Pricing Index, here's what DPC currently costs across the Greater Columbus metro area (within a 25-mile radius):

Columbus metro DPC pricing runs 15% below the national average — making it one of the most affordable DPC markets in the country. The $40/month floor is particularly notable: that's less than what many Columbus residents pay for a single urgent care visit out of pocket. And with 14 practices offering a range of price points and services, there's real competition driving value for patients.

For context, the average ACA Silver plan premium in Ohio runs roughly $558/month for a 40-year-old — before deductibles and copays. A DPC membership paired with a high-deductible catastrophic plan can cut total healthcare spending significantly while dramatically improving access to your doctor.

Columbus Metro DPC Practices: Who's Available

The Greater Columbus metro area has 14 DPC practices within a 25-mile radius. Here's what they offer, organized by area:

Columbus Proper

Plant Based NP Lifestyle Care Center — $50/month
Located in the heart of Columbus, this practice takes a unique lifestyle medicine approach, combining DPC with plant-based wellness. Telehealth available, making it accessible for patients across the metro. One of the most affordable options within city limits.

Your Private MD — $89/month
A mid-range option in Columbus offering in-person primary care with direct physician access. Focused on personalized, unhurried appointments without the complexity of insurance billing.

NABHCO — $99/month
Comprehensive DPC in Columbus offering telehealth alongside in-person care. A solid choice for patients who want full-service primary care with virtual visit flexibility and direct communication with their physician.

Westerville

Momentum Direct Primary Care — $65/month
One of the best values in the metro, Momentum offers telehealth-enabled DPC at a price point that's 29% below the national average. Located in Westerville, about 11 miles northeast of downtown Columbus — ideal for residents of the northern suburbs.

Prometheus Primary Care — $85/month
Also in Westerville, Prometheus offers telehealth-equipped primary care at the metro median price. A good option for patients who want the balance of in-person and virtual access at a competitive rate.

Dublin

Dublin Direct Care — $85/month
Serving the Dublin community with telehealth-enabled DPC. Dublin is one of Columbus's most affluent suburbs, and this practice brings the DPC model to the western side of the metro at the area's median price point.

New Albany

Life Cycle Direct Primary Care — $85/month
Telehealth-equipped DPC serving the growing New Albany community, about 13 miles northeast of downtown. A strong mid-range option with virtual visit capability.

First Primary Care - New Albany — $99/month
Part of the First Primary Care network, offering comprehensive DPC with telehealth services. A full-service option for New Albany and eastern suburb residents.

Hilliard

Signature Primary Care and Wellness — $75/month
An affordable in-person DPC option serving Hilliard and the western suburbs. At $75/month, it's 18% below the national average — a strong value for patients who prefer traditional office visits.

Johnstown

Spring House Health — $43/month
The second-most affordable practice in the metro area, offering telehealth-enabled care from Johnstown, about 21 miles northeast of downtown. At $43/month, this practice makes DPC accessible for nearly any budget.

Basil Family Medicine - Johnstown — $49/month
Another budget-friendly Johnstown option with telehealth capability. Part of the Basil Family Medicine network, offering family-focused primary care at a price that undercuts the national average by 46%.

Pataskala

AffirmHD — $40/month
The most affordable DPC practice in the entire Columbus metro — and one of the cheapest in the country. Located in Pataskala, about 17 miles east of downtown, AffirmHD offers telehealth-enabled primary care at a price point that makes the DPC model accessible to virtually everyone.

Lockbourne

Basil Family Medicine - Columbus — $99/month
The Columbus-area location of the Basil Family Medicine network, serving the Lockbourne and southern suburbs with telehealth-equipped comprehensive primary care.

Lewis Center

Jensen Family Health and Wellness — $120/month
The premium option in the Columbus metro, located in Lewis Center about 17 miles north of downtown. Telehealth-enabled with a comprehensive approach to family health and wellness — positioned for patients seeking a more concierge-level DPC experience.

Want to compare all Columbus-area providers side by side? Browse Columbus DPC practices on Connectedly Health.

Why DPC Makes Particular Sense in Columbus

Ohio's DPC-Friendly Legal Framework

Ohio is one of the most DPC-friendly states in the country. In 2019, the state passed ORC Section 3901.95, which explicitly declares that DPC agreements are not insurance — meaning DPC practices don't need insurance licenses, and patients' memberships aren't subject to insurance regulation. The law sets clear requirements for DPC agreements while providing legal clarity that encourages physician adoption.

The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians has actively supported DPC growth, and the model has found particular traction in metro areas like Columbus. Combined with the new federal HSA compatibility law (effective January 2026, DPC memberships up to $150/month individual or $300/month family can be paid with tax-free HSA dollars), Ohio's regulatory environment makes DPC a financially attractive option for both patients and physicians.

A Growing City with Changing Healthcare Needs

Columbus has added over 150,000 residents in the past decade — the fastest growth rate of any major Midwest city. The influx includes tech workers drawn by Intel's semiconductor facility, Amazon's expanding presence, and a thriving startup scene. Many of these workers are freelancers, contractors, or employed by companies that don't offer traditional health benefits.

For this population, DPC at $40–$85/month offers something traditional insurance doesn't: immediate access to a doctor, no referral requirements, no copays per visit, and none of the administrative friction that makes navigating the healthcare system so frustrating. OSU graduates staying in Columbus, young professionals in the Short North, and families settling in Dublin and Westerville — they all benefit from a DPC market that's both affordable and accessible.

The Coverage Gap Is Narrowing — But Still Real

Ohio's Medicaid expansion was a major success story, cutting the uninsured rate in half. But 140,000 Ohioans remain at risk of losing coverage as ACA subsidies expire. Columbus's safety-net system — including OhioHealth and Nationwide Children's — serves many of these residents, but primary care wait times are climbing and physician burnout is real.

DPC practices, with their smaller patient panels (typically 300–600 patients vs. 2,000+ in traditional practices), offer an alternative that reduces wait times, improves physician satisfaction, and delivers the kind of relationship-based care that large health systems struggle to provide at scale.

Columbus Metro Area DPC by the Numbers

The geographic spread is notable: Columbus residents have DPC options in nearly every direction, from Johnstown and Lewis Center to the north to Lockbourne in the south, and from Hilliard in the west to Pataskala in the east. Explore all Ohio DPC providers on our Ohio DPC providers page.

How DPC Compares to Columbus's Traditional Options

Columbus residents without insurance currently face these typical out-of-pocket costs for primary care:

• Single doctor visit: $125–$250
• Urgent care walk-in: $150–$350
• Basic lab work: $50–$300+
• Monthly ACA Silver plan (2026 projected): $500–$650/month before deductibles

A DPC membership at $40–$85/month includes unlimited visits, direct physician access, and often telehealth — for less than the cost of a single urgent care visit. For someone who visits their doctor 3–5 times per year, the math is straightforward. And the real benefit goes beyond cost: same-day or next-day appointments, 30- to 60-minute visits, and a doctor who actually has time to listen.

Getting Started with DPC in Columbus

If you're considering DPC in the Columbus area, here's a practical approach:

1. Compare providers. Browse Columbus DPC practices on Connectedly Health to compare pricing, services, and telehealth availability across all 14 metro-area practices.
2. Check HSA eligibility. Starting in 2026, DPC memberships up to $150/month can be paid with tax-free HSA dollars — making every Columbus-area practice HSA-compatible.
3. Pair with catastrophic coverage. DPC handles your primary care needs, but you'll still want a high-deductible health plan for emergencies, hospitalizations, and specialist referrals.
4. Consider suburban practices. Pataskala ($40/mo), Johnstown ($43–$49/mo), and Westerville ($65/mo) offer excellent value — often well below city-proper pricing.
5. Ask about included services. Some practices include labs, telehealth, and chronic disease management in their monthly fee. Others may charge separately for labs or procedures.

For a deeper look at DPC costs nationally, visit our DPC Pricing Index — the most comprehensive, continuously updated analysis of DPC pricing across all 50 states.

The Bottom Line for Columbus

Columbus has built something quietly impressive: a Direct Primary Care market that's both deep (14 practices) and affordable ($40–$120/month, averaging just $77). In a city where healthcare costs are already 18% below the national average, DPC takes affordability a step further — offering unlimited primary care access, direct physician communication, and unhurried appointments at prices that undercut even Columbus's already-reasonable traditional care costs.

With Ohio's DPC-friendly legislation, new HSA compatibility making memberships tax-advantaged, and a growing population of tech workers, freelancers, and young families who need alternatives to traditional insurance, Columbus is positioned as one of the best-value DPC markets in the entire Midwest. For residents who want more than a 7-minute visit with an overbooked doctor — whether they're managing chronic conditions, raising a family, or simply want a physician who picks up the phone — DPC starting at $40/month makes the choice straightforward.

Find DPC providers in Columbus | Browse all Ohio providers | View the National DPC Pricing Index

Explore DPC in Nearby Cities

Connectedly Health publishes in-depth DPC guides for major metros across the country. Explore our other Midwest and regional guides:

• DPC in Indianapolis: 12 Practices from $50/month
• DPC in Chicago: 14 Practices from $50/month

You can also browse all DPC providers by state or check our national DPC Pricing Index for the latest pricing data across 1,348+ practices.